Nursing instructors weren’t sure what to expect with the start of Moraine Park Technical College’s first ever I-BEST Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) program. But when ten eager new faces stepped onto Moraine Park’s West Bend campus in August, instructors were excited to start training and teaching, preparing their new students for a successful future career in health care.

Jane Fetcher of Cedarburg, Katherine Gilmeister of Allenton, Kattie Grass of Jackson, Janice Heimerl of Fredonia, Shirley Infalt of Hartford, Jessica and Kathy Pishcke and Dorthea Tamburri of West Bend, Shital Soni of Germantown, and Irene Thomas of Slinger shared the accomplishment of completing the I-BEST CNA program with family, friends and Moraine Park faculty and staff during a Dec. 14 completion ceremony.

“What you did was an outstanding success,” said Moraine Park’s Executive Dean of Instruction James Eden, who kicked off the ceremony. “You are on your way to an honorable career, and we are grateful you chose Moraine Park to begin it. We look forward to more successes from you in the future.”

Dean of Health Sciences Kathy VanErden spoke on the wonderful career ladder the students have now started with the CNA certification from Moraine Park. “This is a great jump-off point for other health careers, and you have now completed that first rung in the health care ladder,” she said to the students.

Instructors Karrie Bruegman-May (Nursing Assistant instructor) and Nancy Pusch (Basic Education instructor) were very proud of the students and said a couple words to each before handing over their certificates. “As a group, the lowest grade was a ‘B,’ which is just excellent,” Bruegman-May said. “This group has set the bar, and you have set it very high.”

The I-BEST CNA program was made possible by a grant cowritten by Moraine Park and the Waukesha-Ozaukee-Washington Workforce Development Board, with funds obtained from the state Department of Workforce Development.